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CNN Live At Daybreak
Saudi Arabian Police Arrest More Than a Dozen Suspects
Aired May 28, 2003 - 05:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Saudi Arabian police have arrested more than a dozen suspects in this month's bombings of housing compounds in which 34 people died, including eight Americans.
Walter Rodgers is on the line now live from Riyadh -- good morning, Walter.
What can you tell us?
WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol.
The Saudi government is making continuing arrests in connection with the suicide bomb attacks on Western residential compounds in Riyadh earlier this month. Unofficial sources told CNN as many as eight Islamic militants were arrested in Medina last night. This, after a running gun battle. The Ministry of Interior has not released information on these latest arrests and there are conflicting reports about the numbers of those nabbed, ranging from five to eight men.
Reuters has reported one of those arrested was the alleged mastermind of the May 12th Riyadh bombings, but, again, there's been no official confirmation from the Saudi government. Robert Jordan, the U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, briefing reporters this morning, said there remains a continuing threat to Western interests here and the Saudi government, as well, from the Islamist terrorists.
Ambassador Jordan said despite the efforts of the Saudis, it's very likely there are other terror cells operating in Saudi Arabia, most likely, he said, al Qaeda. All U.S. Embassy dependents and non- essential personnel left Riyadh earlier this month and the embassy is basically assuming the worst about a future threat.
The string of bombings that occurred May 12th killed 25 people, including eight Americans. Nine of the bombers also were killed. A 60 person FBI investigating team which has been sifting through the evidence here is returning to the United States by the end of the week. Another much smaller FBI team is expected to replace it.
Unlike previous investigations of attacks on Westerners in Saudi Arabia, this time the Saudis are getting very high marks from the United States for their cooperation -- Carol.
COSTELLO: The suspects that were rounded up yesterday, Walter, are they connected to al Qaeda? Do we know?
RODGERS: We don't know that. We do not even know the names. The Saudis are very secretive about these arrests. Again, we asked the American ambassador that question this morning and he wouldn't even confirm the arrests, again, not waiting to appear to be seen as meddling in what's essentially an interior -- a Saudi Ministry of Interior affair -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Walter Rodgers live on the line from Riyadh this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired May 28, 2003 - 05:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Saudi Arabian police have arrested more than a dozen suspects in this month's bombings of housing compounds in which 34 people died, including eight Americans.
Walter Rodgers is on the line now live from Riyadh -- good morning, Walter.
What can you tell us?
WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol.
The Saudi government is making continuing arrests in connection with the suicide bomb attacks on Western residential compounds in Riyadh earlier this month. Unofficial sources told CNN as many as eight Islamic militants were arrested in Medina last night. This, after a running gun battle. The Ministry of Interior has not released information on these latest arrests and there are conflicting reports about the numbers of those nabbed, ranging from five to eight men.
Reuters has reported one of those arrested was the alleged mastermind of the May 12th Riyadh bombings, but, again, there's been no official confirmation from the Saudi government. Robert Jordan, the U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, briefing reporters this morning, said there remains a continuing threat to Western interests here and the Saudi government, as well, from the Islamist terrorists.
Ambassador Jordan said despite the efforts of the Saudis, it's very likely there are other terror cells operating in Saudi Arabia, most likely, he said, al Qaeda. All U.S. Embassy dependents and non- essential personnel left Riyadh earlier this month and the embassy is basically assuming the worst about a future threat.
The string of bombings that occurred May 12th killed 25 people, including eight Americans. Nine of the bombers also were killed. A 60 person FBI investigating team which has been sifting through the evidence here is returning to the United States by the end of the week. Another much smaller FBI team is expected to replace it.
Unlike previous investigations of attacks on Westerners in Saudi Arabia, this time the Saudis are getting very high marks from the United States for their cooperation -- Carol.
COSTELLO: The suspects that were rounded up yesterday, Walter, are they connected to al Qaeda? Do we know?
RODGERS: We don't know that. We do not even know the names. The Saudis are very secretive about these arrests. Again, we asked the American ambassador that question this morning and he wouldn't even confirm the arrests, again, not waiting to appear to be seen as meddling in what's essentially an interior -- a Saudi Ministry of Interior affair -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Walter Rodgers live on the line from Riyadh this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
